Seat

ABSTRACT

A seat includes a seating portion, a backrest, two pairs of vibrators and a vibration absorbing member, and constitutes a driver’s seat of a vehicle. The vibration absorbing member is arranged at a boundary portion between a first region and a second region of the seating portion, and is arranged at an intermediate portion between the pair of vibrators. The vibration absorbing member suppresses vibration of the vibrator from being propagated to the second region and vibration of the vibrator from being propagated to the first region. The vibration absorbing member is arranged at a boundary portion between a first region and a second region of the backrest, and is arranged at an intermediate portion between the pair of vibrators. The vibration absorbing member suppresses vibration of the vibrator from being propagated to the second region and vibration of the vibrator from being propagated to the first region.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of copending Application No.16/642,497, filed on Feb. 27, 2020, which is the National Phase under 35U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/031759, filedon Aug. 28, 2018, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) toPat. Application No. 2017-167499, filed in Japan on Aug. 31, 2017, allof which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the presentapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a seat including a vibrator.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there has been proposed an information presentationsystem in which a vibrator is provided to a seat of a vehicle and suchand the vibrator is vibrated to transmit information of some kind to aseated person (e.g., see Patent Document 1). Further, Patent Document 1discloses an information presentation system that detects a hazardousobject around an own vehicle (i.e., obstacles such as other vehicle, aperson, a fixed object), and presents to a driver information about adirection of the hazardous object (a direction in which the hazardousobject is present or moving) using a plurality of vibrators inaccordance with the state of the own vehicle and the hazardous object(such as position and/or speed).

Prior Art Document Patent Document

Patent Document 1: JP 2011-48566 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to Be Solved by the Invention

There is a problem in the aforementioned seat having the vibratorarranged therein that, since the vibration by the vibrator arranged in apredetermined region is propagated to another region, the seated personcould mistake the position of the vibration source and thus thepresented information may not be recognized correctly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention, as one example, is toprovide a seat that can allow a seated person to recognize a position ofa vibration source as accurately as possible.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present inventionprovides, in a first aspect, a seat having a first region and anotherregion, including a first vibrator arranged in the first region and apropagation suppressor that suppresses vibration of the first vibratorfrom being propagated to the another region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a seat according to Example 1 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a vibrator provided to the seat ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a seat according to Example 2 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a seat according to Example 3 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a vibrator and a vibrationabsorbing member provided to the seat of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 is an illustration illustrating an effect at the seat of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 7 is an illustration illustrating an effect at a seat according toa modified example of Example 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a seat according to Example 4 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a vibrator and a vibrationabsorbing member provided to the seat of FIG. 8 ; and

FIG. 10 is an illustration illustrating an effect at the seat of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will beexplained. A seat according to an embodiment of the present inventionhas a first region and another region, and includes a first vibratorarranged in the first region and a propagation suppressor thatsuppresses the vibration of the first vibrator from being propagated tothe another region. Such configuration can allow a seated person to moreaccurately recognize a position of a vibration source.

Further, the propagation suppressor may be a vibration absorbing memberprovided around the first vibrator. Such configuration can limit thevibration range of the first vibrator to a narrow range, allowing theseated person to more accurately recognize the position of the vibrationsource.

Further, the seat according to the embodiment of the present inventionmay further include a second vibrator arranged in another region, andthe propagation suppressor may be configured to suppress the vibrationof the second vibrator from being propagated to the first region.

Further, the propagation suppressor may be a vibration absorbing memberprovided around the second vibrator. Such configuration can limit thevibration range of the second vibrator to a narrow range, allowing theseated person to more accurately recognize the position of the vibrationsource.

Further, the propagation suppressor may be a vibration absorbing memberarranged inside the seat at a central portion in a width direction ofthe seat. According to such configuration, when the first vibrator isarranged on one side in the width direction of the seat and the secondvibrator is arranged on the other side, the propagation of unwantedvibration of the first vibrator and unwanted vibration of the secondvibrator can be suppressed with a single vibration absorbing member, andthereby, the number of parts of the seat can be reduced.

Further, the propagation suppressor may be a dividing groove thatdivides an inner member of the seat into right and left portions at thecentral portion in the width direction of the seat. With suchconfiguration, the propagation of unwanted vibration can be suppressedwithout using a dedicated vibration absorbing member, and thereby, thenumber of parts of the seat can be reduced.

Further, the seat according to the embodiment of the present inventionmay be configured to be mounted as a seat of a vehicle.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , “seat” according to Example 1 of thepresent invention will be explained. A seat 1A shown in FIG. 1 includesa seating portion 3, a backrest 4, two pairs of vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L,6R, vibration absorbing members (propagation suppressor) 7, 8, and acontroller, and constitutes a driver’s seat of a vehicle. An arrow Xshown in FIG. 1 and in other figures is a front-rear direction of theseat 1A, an arrow Y is a width direction of the seat 1A, and an arrow Zis an up-down direction of the seat 1A.

The seating portion 3 is for supporting buttocks and thighs of theseated person, and has a sheet member constituting a surface thereof anda cushioning member (cushion member) provided to an inner side of thesheet member and such. When viewed from a seating surface, the seatingportion 3 has a first region E1 and a second region E2. The first regionE1 is a right half of the seating portion 3 (i.e., the right half asviewed by the seated person seated on the seat 1A). The second region E2is a left half of the seating portion 3 (i.e., the left half as viewedby the seated person seated on the seat 1A).

The backrest 4 extends so as to intersect with respect to an uppersurface of the seating portion 3, and includes a sheet memberconstituting a surface thereof and a cushioning member (cushion member)provided on the inner side of the sheet member and such. The cushioningmembers of the seating portion 3 and the backrest 4 are made of, forexample, urethane foam. When viewed from the seating surface, thebackrest 4 has a first region E3 and a second region E4. The firstregion E3 is a right half of the backrest 4 (i.e., the right half asviewed from a seated person seated on the seat 1A). The second region E4is a left half of the backrest 4 (i.e., the left half as viewed from theseated person seated on the seat 1A).

The term “seating surface” refers to a surface that is in contact withthe seated person when the seated person has sat on the seat, andcorresponds to the upper surface of the seating portion 3 and a frontsurface of the backrest 4.

The vibrator (first vibrator) 5R is arranged in the first region E1inside the cushioning member of the seating portion 3. The vibrator(second vibrator) 5L is arranged in the second region E2 inside thecushioning member of the seating portion 3. The vibrator (firstvibrator) 6R is arranged in the first region E3 inside the cushioningmember of the backrest 4. The vibrator (second vibrator) 6L is arrangedin the second region E4 inside the cushioning member of the backrest 4.The two pairs of vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R are identical inconfiguration, and as shown in FIG. 2 , they include a magnetic circuit520 accommodated in a case 510. The case 510 has a cylindrical frame 511which is low in height and which has an opening at one end side closedby a circular first plate wall 513 provided with a plurality of throughholes 512 at a central portion, and an opening at the other end sideclosed by a circular second plate wall 514.

A cylindrical bobbin 515 is provided at a substantially center of thefirst plate wall 513 so a to stand toward the second plate wall 514 soas to surround the plurality of through holes 512 and, a voice coil 516is provided on an outer circumference of the bobbin 515. In this manner,the voice coil 516 is fixed to the first plate wall 513 via the bobbin515. Further, the plurality of through holes 512 are provided in aregion 513 a corresponding to an inner side of the voice coil 516 in aplan view viewed from a direction intersecting the first plate wall 513.The magnetic circuit 520 includes a plate 521 and a magnet 522 which areformed into a ring-like shape, and a disk-shaped yoke 523. The plate 521and the magnet 522 are arranged coaxially with respect to the voice coil516 with a gap. The plate 521, thus the magnetic circuit 520, issupported on an inner wall face of the cylindrical frame 511 via adamper 530 in a manner capable of vibrating in a contacting/separatingdirection D1 with respect to the first plate wall 513.

When an AC signal is transmitted to the voice coil 516, the magneticcircuit 520 vibrates in the contacting/separating direction D1 withrespect to the first plate wall 513. Also, due to the reaction from thatvibration applied via the damper 530, the case 510 is vibrated.

Although the vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R of this example has a magneticcircuit configuration of an external magnet type, the configuration ofthe vibrator is not limited thereto, and it may have a magnetic circuitconfiguration of an inner magnet type, for example.

The vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R is arranged such that the first plate wall513 faces the seated person side. Further, in the seating portion 3, thepair of vibrators 5L, 5R is arranged in a line-symmetrical manner withrespect to a central axis that passes through a widthwise center of theseating portion 3 and that is parallel to the front-rear direction ofthe seat 1A. Similarly, in the backrest 4, the pair of vibrators 6L, 6Ris arranged in a line-symmetrical manner with respect to a central axisthat passes through a widthwise center of the backrest 4 and that isparallel to a direction from a lower end to an upper end of the backrest4.

The vibration absorbing member 7 is formed into a quadrangularprism-like shape and is arranged inside the seating portion 3 at thecentral portion in the width direction of the seating portion 3.Further, a longitudinal direction of the vibration absorbing member 7coincides with the front-rear direction of the seat 1A. That is, thevibration absorbing member 7 is arranged along the central axis thatpasses through the widthwise center of the seating portion 3 and that isparallel to the front-rear direction of the seat 1A. That is, thevibration absorbing member 7 is arranged at a boundary portion of thefirst region E1 and the second region E2 of the seating portion 3 and isarranged at an intermediate portion between the pair of the vibrators5L, 5R. The vibration absorbing member 7 is composed of a material inwhich vibration is not likely to be propagated to the cushioning memberinside the seating portion 3, and in this example, it is composed ofurethane foam. Further, in this example, the vibration absorbing member7 has a dimension in a thickness direction of the seating portion 3 thatis comparable to a thickness of the vibrator 5L, 5R (i.e., a dimensionof the cylindrical frame 511 in the arrow D1 direction shown in FIG. 2); however, the dimension of the vibration absorbing member 7 in thethickness direction of the seating portion 3 may be changedappropriately, and it may be comparable to the thickness of the seatingportion 3.

The vibration absorbing member 7 as described above suppresses thevibration of the vibrator 5R from being propagated to the second regionE2, and also suppresses the vibration of the vibrator 5L from beingpropagated to the first region E1.

The vibration absorbing member 8 is formed into a quadrangular prismshape and is arranged inside the backrest 4 at the central portion inthe width direction of the backrest 4. Further, a longitudinal directionof the vibration absorbing member 8 coincides with the direction from alower end to an upper end of the backrest 4. That is, the vibrationabsorbing member 8 is arranged along the central axis that passesthrough the widthwise center of the backrest 4 and that is parallel tothe direction from the lower end to the upper end of the backrest 4.That is, the vibration absorbing member 8 is arranged at a boundaryportion of the first region E3 and the second region E4 of the backrest4, and is arranged at an intermediate portion between the pair ofvibrators 6L, 6R. The vibration absorbing member 8 is composed of amaterial in which vibration is not likely to be propagated to thecushioning member inside the backrest 4. In this example, the vibrationabsorbing member 8 is composed of urethane foam.

Further, in this example, the vibration absorbing member 8 has adimension in the thickness direction of the backrest 4 that iscomparable to the thickness of the vibrator 6L, 6R (the dimension in thearrow D1 direction of the cylindrical frame 511 shown in FIG. 2 );however the dimension of the vibration absorbing member 8 in thethickness direction of the backrest 4 may be changed appropriately andmay be comparable to the thickness of the backrest 4.

The vibration absorbing member 8 as described above suppresses thevibration of the vibrator 6R from being propagated to the second regionE4, and also suppresses the vibration of the vibrator 6L from beingpropagated to the first region E3.

The controller independently controls the vibration of each of thevibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R by controlling the current flowing through thevibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R. The controller performs control such as, whenthe own vehicle deviates from a lane during traveling, it notifies so byvibrating the vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R.

According to the seat 1A having the above-described configuration, thevibration generated by each of the vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R ispropagated well to the seated person side but is suppressed from beingpropagated in the width direction of the seat 1A by the vibrationabsorbing members 7, 8, allowing the seated person to recognize theposition of the vibration source more accurately. That is, whether thevibrating vibrator is the one on the right side or on the left side canbe recognized more accurately. Consequently, it is possible to allow theseated person to correctly recognize the information meant by thevibration of each vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R. Further, the propagation ofunwanted vibration of the vibrators 5R, 5L on the right side and theleft side (the vibration propagating in the width direction of the seat1A) can be suppressed with one vibration absorbing member 7, and thepropagation of unwanted vibration of the vibrators 6R, 6L on the rightside and the left side can be suppressed with one vibration absorbingmember 8, thus the number of parts of the seat 1A can be reduced.

Example 2

Referring to FIG. 3 , “seat” according to Example 2 of the presentinvention will be explained. In FIG. 3 , the same elements as Example 1are denoted by the same reference signs to omit explanations thereof.

A seat 1B of this example shown in FIG. 3 includes a seating portion 3,a backrest 4, two pairs of vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R, a propagationsuppressor and a controller, and constitutes a driver’s seat of avehicle as Example 1.

The propagation suppressor is a dividing groove P1 that divides acushioning member inside the seating portion 3 into right and leftportions at a central portion in a width direction of the seatingportion 3, and a dividing groove P2 that divides a cushioning memberinside the backrest 4 into right and left portions at a central portionin a width direction of the backrest 4. The dividing grooves P1, P2 areformed at positions corresponding to the vibration absorbing members 7,8 of Example 1.

The dividing groove P1 is formed recessed from an upper surface of thecushioning member of the seating portion 3, and it is hollow inside thedividing groove P1. In this example, a depth of the dividing groove P1(i.e., a depth of the seating portion 3 in a thickness direction) iscompatible to a thickness of the vibrator 5L, 5R (i.e., a dimension ofthe cylindrical frame 511 in the arrow D1 direction in FIG. 2 );however, the depth of the dividing groove P1 may be changedappropriately and may be formed throughout the entire region in thethickness direction of the cushioning member of the seating portion 3.Further, in the present invention, instead of the dividing groove P1, acavity may be formed by hollowing out the central portion in thethickness direction of the cushioning member of the seating portion 3.

The dividing groove P1 as described above suppresses the vibration ofthe vibrator 5R from being propagated to the second region E2, and alsosuppresses the vibration of the vibrator 5L from being propagated to thefirst region E1.

The dividing groove P2 is formed recessed from a front surface of thecushioning member of the backrest 4, and it is hollow inside thedividing groove P2. In this example, a depth of the dividing groove P2(i.e., a depth of the backrest 4 in a thickness direction) is compatibleto a thickness of the vibrator 6L, 6R (i.e., a dimension of thecylindrical frame 511 in the arrow D1 direction in FIG. 2 ); however,the depth of the dividing groove P2 may be changed appropriately and maybe formed throughout the entire region in the thickness direction of thecushioning member of the backrest 4. Further, in the present invention,instead of the dividing groove P2, a cavity may be formed by hollowingout the central portion in the thickness direction of the cushioningmember of the backrest 4.

The dividing groove P2 as described above suppresses the vibration ofthe vibrator 6R from being propagated to the second region E4, and alsosuppresses the vibration of the vibrator 6L from being propagated to thefirst region E3.

According to the seat 1B having the above-described configuration, thevibration generated by each of the vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R ispropagated well to the seated person side but is suppressed from beingpropagated in the width direction of the seat 1B by the dividing groovesP1, P2, allowing the seated person to recognize the position of thevibration source more accurately. That is, whether the vibratingvibrator is the one on the right side or on the left side can berecognized more accurately. Consequently, it is possible to allow theseated person to correctly recognize the information meant by thevibration of each vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R. Further, by forming thedividing grooves P1, P2 to the seating portion 3 and the backrest 4, thepropagation of unwanted vibration of the vibrators 5R, 5L, 6L, 6R (i.e.,the vibration that propagates in the width direction of the seat 1B) canbe suppressed without using a dedicated vibration absorbing member asdescribed in Example 1, thus the number of parts of the seat 1B can bereduced.

Example 3

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6 , “seat” according to Example 3 of the presentinvention will be explained. In FIGS. 4 to 6 , the same elements asExamples 1, 2 are denoted by the same reference signs to omitexplanations thereof.

A seat 1C of this example shown in FIG. 4 includes a seating portion 3,a backrest 4, two pairs of vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R, a vibrationabsorbing member (propagation suppressor) 9 and a controller, andconstitutes a driver’s seat of a vehicle as Example 1.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the vibration absorbing member 9 is formed into anannular shape and is provided around each vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R, i.e.,to an outer circumferential portion of the cylindrical frame 511. InFIG. 5 , only the vibration absorbing member 9 provided around thevibrator 5L is shown; however, the vibration absorbing members 9provided around other vibrators 5R, 6L, 6R have the same configurationas the one shown in FIG. 5 .

The vibration absorbing members 9 provided around the vibrators 5L, 5Rare composed of a material in which vibration is not likely to bepropagated to the cushioning member inside the seating portion 3, and inthis example, it is composed of urethane foam. Further, in this example,the vibration absorbing member 9 provided around the vibrator 5L, 5R hasa dimension in the thickness direction of the seating portion 3 that iscompatible to the thickness of the vibrator 5L, 5R (i.e., a dimension ofthe cylindrical frame 511 in the arrow D1 direction in FIG. 2 );however, the dimension of the vibration absorbing member 9 in thethickness direction of the seating portion 3 may be changedappropriately and may be compatible to the thickness of the seatingportion 3. Further, the vibration absorbing member 9 covers an entireregion of the outer circumferential face of the cylindrical frame 511 ofthe vibrator 5L, 5R.

The vibration absorbing member 9 provided around the vibrator 5Rsuppresses the vibration of the vibrator 5R located inside thereof frombeing propagated to the second region E2. The vibration absorbing member9 provided around the vibrator 5L suppresses the vibration of thevibrator 5L located inside thereof from being propagated to the firstregion E1.

The vibration absorbing member 9 provided around the vibrator 6L, 6R iscomposed of a material in which vibration is not likely to be propagatedto the cushioning member inside the backrest 4, and in this example, itis composed of urethane foam. Further, in this example, the vibrationabsorbing member 9 provided around the vibrator 6L, 6R has a dimensionin the thickness direction of the backrest 4 that is compatible to thethickness of the vibrator 6L, 6R (i.e., a dimension of the cylindricalframe 511 in the arrow D1 direction in FIG. 2 ); however, the dimensionof the vibration absorbing member 9 in the thickness direction of thebackrest 4 may be changed appropriately and may be compatible to thethickness of the backrest 4. Further, the vibration absorbing member 9covers an entire region of the outer circumferential face of thecylindrical frame 511 of the vibrator 6L, 6R.

The vibration absorbing member 9 provided around the vibrator 6Rsuppresses the vibration of the vibrator 6R located inside thereof frombeing propagated to the second region E4. The vibration absorbing member9 provided around the vibrator 6L suppresses the vibration of thevibrator 6L located inside thereof from being propagated to the firstregion E3.

According to the seat 1C having the above-described configuration, thevibration generated by each of the vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R ispropagated well to the seated person side but is suppressed from beingpropagated in a radial direction of the vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R by thevibration absorbing members 9 as shown in FIG. 6 , allowing the seatedperson to recognize the position of the vibration source moreaccurately. That is, whether the vibrating vibrator is the one on theright side or on the left side can be recognized more accurately.Consequently, it is possible to allow the seated person to correctlyrecognize the information meant by the vibration of each vibrator 5L,5R, 6L, 6R. Further, by providing the vibration absorbing member 9around each vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R, the vibration range of eachvibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R can be limited to a narrow range, therebyallowing the seated person to recognize the position of the vibrationsource more accurately. In Example 3 described above, the vibrationabsorbing members 9 are provided around all vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R;however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the vibrationabsorbing member 9 may be provided around one of the pair of vibrators5L, 5R, and the vibration absorbing member 9 may be provided to one ofthe pair of vibrators 6L, 6R. In this case also, an advantageous effectto some extent can be obtained in suppressing the propagation ofunwanted vibration.

Modified Example of Example 3

Referring to FIG. 7 , “seat” according to a modified example of Example3 of the present invention will be explained. In FIG. 7 , the sameelements as Example 3 are denoted by the same reference signs to omitexplanations thereof.

A seat 101C shown in FIG. 7 includes a seating portion 3, a backrest 4,two pairs of vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R, a vibration absorbing member(propagation suppressor) 109 provided around each vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L,6R, and a controller, and constitutes a driver’s seat of a vehicle asExample 3.

The vibration absorbing member 109 has the same configuration as thevibration absorbing member 9 of Example 3 except that a dimension of thevibration absorbing member 109 in the thickness direction of thevibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R is greater than that of the vibration absorbingmember 9 of Example 3.

The vibration absorbing members 109 provided around the vibrators 5L, 5Rare formed to have the thickness compatible to the thickness of theseating portion 3. Cavities S1, S2 are present inside the vibrationabsorbing members 109 above and below the vibrators 5L, 5R. In thepresent invention, these cavities S1, S2 may be filled with urethanefoam and such or may be filled with a cushioning member made of the samematerial as the seating portion 3.

The vibration absorbing members 109 provided around the vibrators 6L, 6Rare formed to have the thickness compatible to the thickness of thebackrest 4. Cavities S3, S4 are present inside the vibration absorbingmembers 109 in front and back of the vibrators 6L, 6R. In the presentinvention, these cavities S3, S4 may be filled with urethane foam andsuch or may be filled with a cushioning member made of the same materialas the backrest 4.

According to the seat 101C having the above-described configuration,with the vibration absorbing member 109 having the thickness greaterthan that of the vibration absorbing member 9 of Example 3, propagationof unwanted vibration of the vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R (i.e., thevibration propagating in the radial direction of the vibrator 5L, 5R,6L, 6R) can be suppressed more than the vibration absorbing member 9 ofExample 3.

Example 4

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10 , “seat” according to Example 4 of thepresent invention will be explained. In FIGS. 8 to 10 , the sameelements as Examples 1 to 3 described above are denoted by the samereference signs to omit explanations thereof.

A seat 1D of this example shown in FIG. 8 includes a seating portion 3,a backrest 4, two pairs of vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R, a vibrationabsorbing member (propagation suppressor) 10 provided around eachvibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R, a frame 11 supporting the vibration absorbingmember 10, and a controller, and constitutes a driver’s seat of avehicle as Example 1.

The vibration absorbing member 10 is a damping spring and threevibration absorbing members 10 are provided per each vibrator 5L, 5R,6L, 6R. As shown in FIG. 9 , this vibration absorbing member 10 has oneend attached to an outer circumferential portion of a cylindrical frame511 and the other end attached to the frame 11. The frame 11 is formedinto a cylindrical shape and is arranged at the outer circumference ofeach vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R. The three vibration absorbing members 10are arranged at an equal interval with each other in a circumferentialdirection of each vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R. In FIG. 9 , only thevibration absorbing member 10 and the frame 11 provided around thevibrator 5L are shown; however, the vibration absorbing members 10 andthe frames 11 provided around other vibrators 5R, 6L, 6R have the sameconfiguration as those in FIG. 9 . Herein, the vibration absorbingmember 10 is schematically shown in FIG. 9 .

The vibration absorbing member 10 provided around the vibrator 5Rsuppresses the vibration of the vibrator 5R located inside thereof frombeing propagated to the second region E2. The vibration absorbing member10 provided around the vibrator 5L suppresses the vibration of thevibrator 5L located inside thereof from being propagated to the firstregion E1. The vibration absorbing member 10 provided around thevibrator 6R suppresses the vibration of the vibrator 6R located insidethereof from being propagated to the second region E4. The vibrationabsorbing member 10 provided around the vibrator 6L suppresses thevibration of the vibrator 6L located inside thereof from beingpropagated to the first region E3.

According to the seat 1D having the above-described configuration, thevibration generated by each of the vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R ispropagated well to the seated person side but is suppressed from beingpropagated in a radial direction of the vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R by thevibration absorbing member 10 as shown in FIG. 10 , allowing the seatedperson to recognize the position of the vibration source moreaccurately. That is, whether the vibrating vibrator is the one on theright side or on the left side can be recognized more accurately.Consequently, it is possible to allow the seated person to correctlyrecognize the information meant by the vibration of each vibrator 5L,5R, 6L, 6R. Further, by providing the vibration absorbing member 10around each vibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R, the vibration range of eachvibrator 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R can be limited to a narrow range, therebyallowing the seated person to recognize the position of the vibrationsource more accurately.

The present invention is not limited to Examples 1 to 4 described above,and may include other configurations and the like which can achieve theobject of the present invention, and modifications and the like as shownbelow are also within the present invention.

For example, in Examples 1 to 4 described above, the seat 1A, 1B, 1C, 1Dis configured to include two pairs of vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L, 6R; however,the present invention is not limited thereto, and the seat may beconfigured to include one vibrator arranged in one region and apropagation suppressor for suppressing the vibration of this vibratorfrom being propagated to the another region. In this case also, it ispossible to allow the seated person to recognize the position of thevibration source more accurately.

Further, in Examples 1 to 4 described above, the seating portion 3 andthe backrest 4 are configured to have the first region and the secondregion adjacent to each other in the width direction of the seat,respectively; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, andthe seating portion may have a first region and a second region adjacentto each other in the front-rear direction, and/or the backrest may havea first region and a second region adjacent to each other in the up-downdirection. Furthermore, the seating portion or the backrest may have aplurality of regions arranged in a lattice-like fashion.

Further, in Examples 1 to 4 described above, the vibration absorbingmember 7, 8, the dividing grooves P1, P2, the vibration absorbing member9 and the vibration absorbing member 10 as the propagation suppressorare employed alone; however, in the present invention, these propagationsuppressors of several kinds may be employed in combination. Forexample, the vibration absorbing member 9 may be provided around thevibrator 5L, 5R of Example 1, so that the vibration absorbing member 9and the vibration absorbing member 7 together may suppress thepropagation of unwanted vibration (vibration propagated in the widthwisedirection of the seat) of the vibrators 5L, 5R. Further, the vibrationabsorbing member 10 and the frame 11 may be provided around thevibrators 5L, 5R of Example 2, so that the vibration absorbing member 10and the dividing groove P1 together may suppress the propagation ofunwanted vibration of the vibrators 5L, 5R.

Further, in Examples 1 to 4 described above, the vibrator is arranged toboth of the seating portion 3 and the backrest 4; however, in thepresent invention, the vibrator may be arranged to only one of theseating portion 3 and the backrest 4.

Further, in Examples 1 to 4 described above, the vibrators 5L, 5R, 6L,6R were the same in configuration and size; however, in order to obtainthe required vibration strength, the vibrator arranged in the backrest 4and the vibrator arranged in the seating portion 3 may be different insize, or, when the number of vibrators arranged in the backrest 4 andthe seating portion 3 is three or more, then the vibrators in thebackrest 4 and the seating portion 3 may be different in size.

Further, although Examples 1 to 4 described above illustrate examples inwhich the seat is configured to be mounted on a vehicle, the seat of thepresent invention may be a seat other than a seat for a vehicle, such asa seat for a movie theater or a theater.

Preferred configurations, methods, etc. for carrying out the presentinvention are disclosed in the above description; however, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. That is, although the presentinvention has been specifically shown and described with respect toparticular examples, a person skilled in the art can make variousmodifications to the examples described above in terms of shape,material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departingfrom the scope of the technical philosophy and object of the presentinvention. Therefore, the description which limits the shape, material,etc. disclosed above is exemplary for ease of understanding of thepresent invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention,thus the description in with name of a member not including a part orall of the limitations of its shape, material, etc. is intended to beincluded in the present invention.

List of Reference Signs 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 101C seat 5R, 6R vibrator (firstvibrator) 5L, 6L vibrator (second vibrator) 7, 8, 9, 10, 109 vibrationabsorbing member (propagation suppressor) E1, E3 first region E2, E4second region P1, P2 dividing groove (propagation suppressor)

1. A seat having a first region and another region, comprising: a firstvibrator arranged in the first region; and a propagation suppressor thatsuppresses vibration of the first vibrator from being propagated to theanother region, wherein the propagation suppressor is a vibrationabsorbing member that is arranged inside the seat at a central portionin a width direction of the seat, wherein the vibration absorbing memberextends from a front to a rear of a seating portion of the seat or froma bottom to a top of a back portion of the seat, and wherein thevibration absorbing member is constituted of a member that is separatefrom a cushioning member inside the seating portion or the back portionof the seat.
 2. The seat as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: asecond vibrator arranged in the another region, wherein the propagationsuppressor is configured to suppress vibration of the second vibratorfrom being propagated to the first region.
 3. The seat as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the propagation suppressor is constituted of a materialin which vibration is not likely to be propagated to the cushioningmember inside the seating portion or the back portion.
 4. A seat havinga first region and another region, comprising: a first vibrator arrangedin the first region; and a propagation suppressor that suppressesvibration of the first vibrator from being propagated to the anotherregion, wherein the propagation suppressor is a dividing grooveconfigured to divide an inner member of the seat into right and leftportions at a central portion in a width direction of the seat.
 5. Theseat as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a second vibratorarranged in the another region, wherein the propagation suppressor isconfigured to suppress vibration of the second vibrator from beingpropagated to the first region.
 6. The seat as claimed in claim 2,wherein the propagation suppressor is constituted of a material in whichvibration is not likely to be propagated to the cushioning member insidethe seating portion or the back portion.